OUR OPINION: Delay medical marijuana law

The voters have spoken. They passed a medical marijuana law in Massachusetts last fall by a nearly 2-1 margin, and any attempt to overturn the law should be viewed with skepticism. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be delayed until the state and communities are thoroughly prepared to deal with a law that has numerous flaws.

The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA

Writer

Posted Jan. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 25, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Posted Jan. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 25, 2013 at 1:00 PM

» Social News

The voters have spoken. They passed a medical marijuana law in Massachusetts last fall by a nearly 2-1 margin, and any attempt to overturn the law should be viewed with skepticism. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be delayed until the state and communities are thoroughly prepared to deal with a law that has numerous flaws.

It makes sense to get this right. Also, possession of marijuana is still a federal crime, even though the Justice Department hasn’t gone after recreational users in decades. They don’t have the resources. Just last month, President Obama said the federal government won’t go after smokers in some states that have legalized marijuana use.

So we support a bill by state Sen. John Keenan, whose district includes Abington and Rockland, that would delay implementation of the law for nine months, increase monitoring of marijuana use and generally tighten up loopholes in a law that Keenan and others say is flawed – no matter what voters think.

The state Department of Public Health has until May 1 to write regulations to cover medical marijuana, mostly used to ease pain. The DPH will oversee the registration of patients and who can grow and sell the marijuana. That is a significant task for a department that already is knee-deep in issues such as the tainted Framingham pharmacy problem and state crime lab scandal.

State officials should be given more time to see how the law is working in other states, notably California, which has been overrun by lawsuits over the issue and has 1,000 marijuana centers. The Massachusetts law limits the number to 35, but just in the first year. It is reasonable to believe this number will increase.

Officials in Brockton and area towns are scrambling to put zoning regulations into place because the city is likely to end up with at least one marijuana facility.

Local communities have the right and responsibility to decide where the shops can be located. Some Brockton officials have sought to have them located in hospital zones, which makes sense, and keep them away from schools and playgrounds, which also makes sense.

No serious harm will come from delaying the creation of an entire new industry for this state that Washington still views as illegal.

Massachusetts should implement the law – voters said so – but delay it nine months. It is imperative that this is done properly and without haste.